By Rahul Banerji
US golfer Thomas McLendon carded a 6-under 65 in the second round to win Pre-Qualifying II of the Tata Steel PGTI Qualifying School in Jamshedpur on Wednesday.
McLendon’s 36-hole total of 9 under 133 at the Golmuri Golf Course carried him from fourth overnight to the top of the 19 who entered the final qualifying stage from a field of 103, the PGTI said.
Delhi’s Rohit Baisoya (67-68) and Chandigarh’s Rajiv Kumar Jatiwal (68-67) finished tied second on 7 under 135.
Italy’s Michele Ortolani, the round one leader, claimed fourth place on 6-under 136 with a second day card of 71.
On Wednesday, the 31-year-old McLendon (68-65) started three strokes off the lead and came up with seven birdies and a bogey as he picked up shots on three of his first four holes.
Birdie run
The San Francisco-based golfer, making his second trip to India, then picked up four more birdies including three on the trot on the front nine at the expense of a lone dropped shot.
McLendon, who has been playing on the ADT and the All Thailand Tour over the last couple of years, said, “I got my putter going on both days. I also kept hitting it close to the pin.
“I drove it to the fringe of the green on twice today that set up birdies. However, my best shot of the day was the approach from 170 yards on the third that landed two feet from the flag for another birdie.
“I would like to thank my good friend and Indian professional golfer Samarth Dwivedi for encouraging me to play at the PGTI Q School when we were both playing on the ADT last year.
“This performance has given me loads of confidence which I will look to carry forward into the Final Stage.”
On day one, the 27-year-old Ortolani, on his first trip to India, was not at his best at the start as he was recovering from food poisoning.
The Milan-based golfer, a regular on the ADT till last year, made a slow start with a birdie and a bogey on his first six holes.
Ortolani then hit top gear with some fabulous ball-striking as he picked up eagle-birdie-eagle on holes 16, 17 and 18. He then added two more birdies and a bogey on his closing nine.
Also read: Jay Pandya tops Pre-Quali I as 22 go through to Final Stage
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